Ventura County Religion | Religion Briefs

Boutique to Help Family in Need

The First Lutheran Church of Camarillo women will hold a spring and summer boutique today at the church. Items for Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and summer will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fund-raiser will help a family from the congregation that is in need due to illness. The money raised will be matched by Aid Assn. for Lutherans, Branch 9464.

Those interested in signing up for a booth may call Karen Cozatt at 482-6966. The church is at 380 Arneill Road. Call 484-0426.

Art Explores Judaic Mysticism * Chabad Community Center of Ventura will host an art exhibit of the work of Michoel Muchnick, titled "Mysticism in Jewish Art," in Ventura on Sunday.

Muchnick's work is known throughout the world for its biblical and Judaic themes and has been featured in UNICEF's greeting card series.

The public is invited to the free exhibit at the Poinsettia Pavilion from 7 to 9 p.m. Muchnick will make a special presentation at 8 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served. The pavilion is at 3451 Foothill Road. For more information, call Rabbi Latowicz of chabad at 658-7441.

Expert on Israeli Business to Speak * As part of its Shabbat weekend celebrating "Israel at 50," the Temple Etz Chaim Men's Club of Thousand Oaks will host a brunch Sunday.

The speaker will be Bennett Zimmerman, general partner of the Israel Emerging Growth Fund, which invests in the equities of Israeli companies traded in the United States and Israel. Zimmerman will lead a business mission to Israel for the California-Israel Chamber of Commerce in April.

A $5 bagels-and-lox meal will be served at the 10:30 a.m. event at 1080 Janss Road. For more information, call 497-6891.

Sermon on Coping With Illness * The First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard invites the public to a special sermon on "When Illness Strikes" by the Rev. James K. Bain on Sunday at the 10 a.m. worship service.

Church school for adults will precede the service at 9 a.m. Church school for children grades pre-K through 12th grade will be held during the 10 a.m. worship service. Child care is available for all classes and services.

The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. For more information, call 983-0204.

2 Churches to Hold Joint Service * The congregation of Ventura's Olivet Baptist Church will host members of Ventura's Church of the Foothills at a combined 4 p.m. service Sunday.

Olivet's pastor, the Rev. John L. Baylor, will give the sermon. The choirs of both churches will sing. The public is welcome.

"We are coming together like this to learn about the other church's differences and styles and to respect the differences," Baylor said.

Olivet Baptist is at 174 S. Anacapa. For information, call the church at 643-1976.

Church Adds Informal Service * An 8:30 a.m. contemporary worship service at Santa Paula's First Presbyterian Church begins Sunday.

Pastor Chuck Laird said the one-hour informal service is being added to offer a variety of worship experiences to the community.

In April, the church will begin small group ministries "to enhance individual Christian growth," Laird said. "One of our small groups will meet on the topic 'Making Peace With Your Past,' and another will be about 'Search for Significance.' "

For information, call the church at 525-6654. First Presbyterian is at 121 N. Davis St.

Levenson is a dean at Loyola Law School and legal consultant for CBS, National Public Radio and CNN. The brunch and program are open to the public at a cost of $7 in advance or $10 at the door. The brunch will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the temple, 7620 Foothill Road. Call 647-4181.

Church Follows Sicilian Tradition * "St. Joseph's Table," a Sicilian tradition, will be the centerpiece of a St. Joseph's Day celebration at St. Paschal Baylon Church in Thousand Oaks on Sunday.

The day's festivities will begin with a bake sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., children's procession from the church to the hall and 9:15 Mass, followed by a blessing of the baked goods at 10:15 a.m. An Italian dinner, served by the Italian Catholic Federation, will be offered from 4 to 7 p.m. Entertainment will be featured.

Proceeds from the dinner, which costs $7 for adults and $3.50 for children, will support the needy in Thousand Oaks.

The festival is offered in honor of St. Joseph for favors received through the intercession of the foster father of Jesus, said Frank Saglime, president of the Italian Catholic Federation.

The custom of St. Joseph's Table began in the Middle Ages when Sicily suffered a drought and famine. Sicilians prayed to St. Joseph, promising that each succeeding generation would honor him on his feast day if God would send rain. The story goes that at the stroke of midnight, the land turned green and fish became abundant.